View Full Version : Please tell me it'll be alright...
cgirl
December 12th, 2016, 07:44 PM
Hi all,
I got talked into a bad chemical straightening in October and was just wondering, honestly, what are the odds that it caused permanent follicle damage? Is there a way to tell? All I know is that it was a Redken Alkaline Perm left on for 12-13 minutes. It did tingle a bit and smelled really bad. It does seem thinner around the temples, but when I compare pictures, it looks like I had a bit of a bald spot after I first got it done that seems to be growing in now. I'll try to figure out how to post them. The thing is, where it's growing in just seems thinner. Or maybe it's just that since the surrounding texture is still fairly straight, maybe it just looks that way? That's what I'm hoping. Some people get these things every 6-8 weeks, so maybe me doing it just once couldn't do that much harm? I can't seem to keep myself from freaking out about this.:scared::scared::scared:
Anje
December 12th, 2016, 08:28 PM
It'll be alright, but be careful and be gentle with your scalp. I've bleached for the first few times recently, and that tingles strangely at the scalp too.
Take it easy, consider doing milder treatments. But I think your hair will come back as thick, if not immediately then eventually. Just baby your hair, because curly hair already has a tendency to be fragile at points where it twists, and straightening treatments tend to weaken it too. It's a bit of a rough choice either way, but you can still grow it long if you're careful and pay attention to what works best for you personally. :)
pili
December 12th, 2016, 08:51 PM
I will be OK. I have had damaging encounters with straighteners and bleach and my hair has recovered. Just be gentle on yourself and remember it for the future. Your hair will grow back.
Welcome to LHC. Read as much as you can. There is so much wonderful information, and so many amazing people.
cgirl
December 12th, 2016, 09:17 PM
Thank you both so much. I posted on the Newbie forum a couple of days ago all freaked out that it would even grow back at all. And everyone was so nice and welcoming and reassuring, but now I'm freaking out that it won't grow back THE SAME. I'd never forgive myself if I did permanent damage. I just want my old hair back. :cry:
Here's a pic from a few weeks after the treatment: http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u493/c__girl/WIN_20161030_22_59_54_Pro_zpsbkonon6u.jpg
here's a pic from just now: http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u493/c__girl/WIN_20161212_19_46_28_Pro_zpsix0nbhs0.jpg
Sorry if the quality is bad, I took them with the laptop camera. Please let me know if the links don't work.
I do think it is growing back. I just hope it thickens up a bit.
Llama
December 13th, 2016, 02:20 AM
It looks much thicker in the most recent picture. I wouldn't worry about permanent damage. Just let your scalp heal and give it a healthy environment to continue to grow hair again.
I wouldn't have another chemical process like that done again if I were you. :flowers:
Borgessa
December 13th, 2016, 02:25 AM
If these things caused permanent baldness and follicle damage no one would use use them. You prob just damaged the hair it self, which is dead anyway, will not have damaged your ability to grow hair. It also may feel/look thinner, as straight hair takes up less room and looks less full. It may not be as bad as you think, just don't do anymore treatments.
I don't see any bald patches on your images, its too hard to see much, my eyesight not what it once was lol.
lapushka
December 13th, 2016, 03:14 AM
Hi all,
I got talked into a bad chemical straightening in October and was just wondering, honestly, what are the odds that it caused permanent follicle damage? Is there a way to tell? All I know is that it was a Redken Alkaline Perm left on for 12-13 minutes. It did tingle a bit and smelled really bad. It does seem thinner around the temples, but when I compare pictures, it looks like I had a bit of a bald spot after I first got it done that seems to be growing in now. I'll try to figure out how to post them. The thing is, where it's growing in just seems thinner. Or maybe it's just that since the surrounding texture is still fairly straight, maybe it just looks that way? That's what I'm hoping. Some people get these things every 6-8 weeks, so maybe me doing it just once couldn't do that much harm? I can't seem to keep myself from freaking out about this.:scared::scared::scared:
The perm might have done damage, but that doesn't mean it's not going to re-grow. The damage that's been done, has been done, but the healing process has yet to start. Give it time. This time next year it will all be much better (yes, it will take that long, and rather 2 years than 1 if you want length). Just being dead straight with you.
If the bald spot is already growing in, that's a *very* very good sign right there! :)
Not every head of hair is the same, what some can take others can't. :flower:
TBH it doesn't look bad in your last picture at all!
cgirl
December 13th, 2016, 10:56 AM
It looks much thicker in the most recent picture. I wouldn't worry about permanent damage. Just let your scalp heal and give it a healthy environment to continue to grow hair again.
I wouldn't have another chemical process like that done again if I were you. :flowers:
Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. Mark my words as long as I live, not only will I never have a treatment again, I will never set foot in a salon again! At the moment, I can hardly stand to walk past them. shudder:
cgirl
December 13th, 2016, 10:59 AM
If these things caused permanent baldness and follicle damage no one would use use them. You prob just damaged the hair it self, which is dead anyway, will not have damaged your ability to grow hair. It also may feel/look thinner, as straight hair takes up less room and looks less full. It may not be as bad as you think, just don't do anymore treatments.
I don't see any bald patches on your images, its too hard to see much, my eyesight not what it once was lol.
That's a good point! Thank you so much. I will never, ever do it again. Lesson learned.
pili
December 13th, 2016, 11:05 AM
Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. Mark my words as long as I live, not only will I never have a treatment again, I will never set foot in a salon again! At the moment, I can hardly stand to walk past them. shudder:
Welcome to the club!
cgirl
December 13th, 2016, 11:18 AM
The perm might have done damage, but that doesn't mean it's not going to re-grow. The damage that's been done, has been done, but the healing process has yet to start. Give it time. This time next year it will all be much better (yes, it will take that long, and rather 2 years than 1 if you want length). Just being dead straight with you.
If the bald spot is already growing in, that's a *very* very good sign right there! :)
Not every head of hair is the same, what some can take others can't. :flower:
TBH it doesn't look bad in your last picture at all!
Thank you so much for your honesty lapushka, I have read a lot of your posts and I know in my heart that your method of patience is truly the key to good hair. When this first happened, I went crazy with buying these "miracle-grow" solutions, which was probably like putting salt on the wound. Now I know that what my hair and scalp really want is a break and space to heal. The reality of how much patience I'm actually going to have to have is really causing me some anxiety, but this forum helps with that a lot.
I'm realizing too that the length will take a lot of time, I've already noticed that since the top most inch wants to curl, it's pulling the hair up with it and my hair actually looks shorter than when it was cut on Oct 6. I am grateful to see it coming in though.
I'm just so incredibly relieved that, since reading these replies, it seems that the likelihood of permanent follicle damage is very low. :hifive:
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